Filmstudy - Filmstudy is a sophisticated and comprehensive statistical analysis of the Ravens defense that incorporates a participation-by-play tracking system. This unique analysis is the brain child of the author and provides our readers with the real story behind the Ravens’ top end defensive results in the National Football League. Make Russellstreetreport.com the source for all of your Ravens football news and the forum to talk about what the Ravens fans want to hear most.

Lombardi’s Way - A column from the 24×7 founder that focuses on the Ravens, the NFL, Baltimore, the world of sports or life’s inspirations.

Battle Plans - During the season, you can expect to find thoughtful analysis in each of our Game Previews. We bring out the chalk and then talk X’s and O’s. In the offseason, Dev Panchwagh — The Scientist, digs beneath the surface and serves up insightful commentary on issues facing the Ravens and the NFL. School is in session!

The Ravens defense struggled mightily against a balanced Cowboys offense netting a total of 481 yards of offense. There were plenty of issues on the defensive side of the ball, one of the most glaring being missed tackles.

In total, the Ravens missed 19 tackles, which allowed the Cowboys an additional 101 yards of total offense.

For the purpose of this statistic, a missed tackle was defined as:

* Defensive player placed hands on an offensive player with a legitimate chance to bring the player to the ground.
* Defensive player was attempting to make a tackle but dove and was juked by an offensive player. The defensive player must have had a legitimate chance of making a tackle.

Many highlight reels from this season have already featured massive hits by Ed Reed as he’s laid his shoulder into a few opposing offensive players; however, Reed showed he’s heavily relying on the big hit versus fundamental tackling by wrapping up the opposing player.

Cowboys’ players looked like pinballs as they bounced off the future Hall of Fame safety. Reed accounted for four missed tackles, which netted an additional 56 yards of offense for the Cowboys after first contact.

Reed’s missed tackles are more glaring because the safety is the last line of defense before an even bigger play can develop. Three of the Cowboys biggest gains after contact came when Reed attempted to make a tackle.

In the midst of injuries and a defense struggling to find its identity, fundamental defensive football cannot be abandoned. Here is a look at the blown tackles:

Down

Field Position

Dallas Player

Ravens Missed

Yards After Contact

1st & 10

DAL 36

Murray

Upshaw

2 Yards

2nd & 6

BLT 40

Murray

McClain, Reed

25 Yards

1st & 20

BLT 22

Jones

Lewis, Pollard, Reed

19 Yards

1st & 10

DAL 38

Murray

Kruger

4 Yards

2nd & 4

BLT 38

Murray

Williams

6 Yards

1st & 10

BLT 35

Murray

Pollard

3 Yards

1st & 10

DAL 20

Jones

Kemoeatu

1 Yard

1st & 15

BLT 36

Bryant

Smith

2 Yards

2nd & 4

DAL 48

Jones

McPhee

6 Yards

1st & 10

BLT 40

Tanner

Smith

2 Yards

2nd & 9

BLT 21

Dunbar

Smith

9 Yards

1st & 10

DAL 25

Bryant

Graham, Reed

0 Yards (Tackled by #51 and #32

2nd & 12

DAL 33

Jones

Ayanbadejo

10 Yards

3rd & 27

BLT 49

Bryant

Graham, Reed

12 Yards

After more than a decade of dominance, opposing offenses no longer fear the Ravens defense. This defense is surrendering yards to offenses like they’ve never seen before and the bleeding doesn’t seem to have any end in sight, especially with key members being injured.

The potential loss of Ray Lewis and Lardarius Webb (confirmed ACL tear, left knee) for the season could have devastating consequences. Luckily for the Ravens, they find themselves tied with the Houston Texans for the best record in the AFC at 5-1 and have a two-game lead in the AFC North.

Somehow the Ravens have found ways to win, without a good defensive performance.

They’re going to have to heavily rely to the offense from this point forward if they have hopes of reaching the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year.

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About Kris Jones

Kris - or "Goob" as he's widely known - has turned an obsession into a career. As a media member by day and super fan by night, he reports from the Under Armour Performance Center twice per week and brings Ravens news from a fan's perspective. His popular YouTube series Goobvision propelled his career and notoriety amongst Ravens fans, even helping him win the 2010 nationwide DIRECTV Ultimate Displaced Fan contest. He's been featured on shows such as The Jim Rome Show, ProFootballTalk Live, The Sirius XM Blitz with Rich Gannon and Adam Schein, Sirius XM's MadDog Radio, The Michael Irvin Show, Tony Bruno Show, Two Live Stews and FoxSports.com to name a few (or is that a lot?). He's caught a touchdown pass from Warren Moon during a flag football game and hates the Pittsburgh Steelers more than anyone else on the face of the earth.
Twitter: RavenManiac More from Kris Jones

2+ Comments TonyLombardi says Dusty728 Thanks Dusty. That is an article that deserves its own space. Maybe we can get someone to give a behind the scenes account of the great William Donald 15 hours ago

Filmstudy - Filmstudy is a sophisticated and comprehensive statistical analysis of the Ravens defense that incorporates a participation-by-play tracking system. This unique analysis is the brain child of the author and provides our readers with the real story behind the Ravens’ top end defensive results in the National Football League. Make Russellstreetreport.com the source for all of your Ravens football news and the forum to talk about what the Ravens fans want to hear most.

Lombardi’s Way - A column from the 24×7 founder that focuses on the Ravens, the NFL, Baltimore, the world of sports or life’s inspirations.

Battle Plans - During the season, you can expect to find thoughtful analysis in each of our Game Previews. We bring out the chalk and then talk X’s and O’s. In the offseason, Dev Panchwagh — The Scientist, digs beneath the surface and serves up insightful commentary on issues facing the Ravens and the NFL. School is in session!